Son of George Renwick, was
born at Glasgow on 30 May 1837. He was brought to Sydney as a child and
was one of the early students of the university of Sydney, where he
graduated B.A. in 1857. Going on to Edinburgh he qualified for the medical
profession graduating M.B., M.D., and F.R.C.S. He returned to Sydney,
where he established a rapidly growing practice, becoming eventually one
of the leading physicians and the first president of the local branch of
the British Medical Association. He was elected a member of the
legislative assembly for East Sydney in 1879, and became secretary for
mines in the third Parkes (q.v.) ministry on 12 October 1881, but lost his
seat at the election held in December 1882. He was elected for Redfern in
October 1885 and was minister for public instruction in the Jennings
(q.v.) ministry front 26 February 1886 to 19 January 1887. In this year he
was nominated to the legislative council and was a member for the
remainder of his life, though never in office again. As a politician he
was one of the earliest to realize the responsibility of the state towards
the poor. He was the author of the Benevolent Society's incorporation act,
he founded the state children's relief department, and as president of the
original committee he had much to do with the bringing in of old-age
pensions in New South Wales. In spite of his heavy practice as a
physician, he gave much time to Sydney hospital, was its president for 29
years, was also president for about the same period of the Benevolent
Society of New South Wales, and he took much interest in the Deaf Dumb and
Blind Institution, and the Royal Hospital for Women at Paddington. He
became a member of the senate of the university of Sydney in 1877, and was
vice-chancellor on several occasions. He was an early advocate for the
foundation of a medical school at the university, and in 1877 gave £1000
to found a scholarship in the faculty of medicine. After the medical
school was established in 1883 he provided the west stained-glass window
in the upper hall of the medical school building. He in fact took the
greatest interest in all movements for the welfare of the community, and
his ability as an organizer led to his acting as a commissioner for New
South Wales for the Melbourne international exhibition in 1880, and in
similar positions for exhibitions held at Adelaide, Amsterdam, and
Chicago. He died at Sydney on 23 November 1908. He married Elizabeth,
daughter of the Rev. John Saunders, who survived him with six sons and a
daughter. He was knighted in 1894. His aptitude for business led to his
being placed on the boards of various important financial companies, but
his really important work was his philanthropy, to which he brought a
scholarly mind, much energy, and a far-sighted understanding of what could
and should be done for suffering humanity.

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